Richard Raffan creates a cross-grain box for the first 4-WAYS project.

This is my response to the first 4-WAYS project, from my inital thoughts to the finished crossgrain box with some colour. Here are links to the other three responses to the brief:
Sam Angelo - • FOUR WAYS to turn a C...
Tomislav Tomasic- • 4 -ways - 1st project ...
Mike Peace - • 4 Ways To Turn a Cross...

[@youenn2180]

Every new video tells me : Richard Raffan is a goldmine for other woodturners ...

[@justinfletcher7630]

I had my first lathe show up yesterday and he's answered most questions I've posted on his videos with helpful answers almost every time I ha e asked

[@woodbutcherjc]

Excellent job. Thank you taking the time and participating in this project. It is priceless for new turners like myself to be able to reap from your vast experience. Thank you much.

[@Buttermilk3696]

Am greatly enjoying you verbalizing your thoughts and then seeing the results evolve! Thank you!!

[@victorprimack2070]

I so enjoy your attitude about challenges or problems while you’re turning. Makes me feel I’m not too far from normal. Beautiful box!

[@theangrywoodturner9972]

Loving this project you guys are doing. Richard you have most likely forgotten more about wood turning than most of us will ever learn. Thank you.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Sadly I'm unable to confirm or deny. I put it down to a sustained seies of Senior Moments.

[@sylvesterguszregan1643]

I finally remembered Arnie Geiger and Doc were very instrumental in my turning beginnings. They had alot of great turners put on exebitions in Anchorage. Thanks again for your teachings.

[@glencrandall7051]

Excellent little box Richard. The epoxy accents are a nice touch. Yours was the last entry for me to watch. I must say all of you produced excellent boxes. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@anirishwoodworkersdiary2137]

Excellent box turning Richard thanks you 🪵❤️

[@georgekabacinski]

Another great video. Thank you, Mr Raffan.

[@tomislavtomasicwoodturning]

Awsome work Richard🤗

[@jakegevorgian]

I watched all of the four videos and honestly your work is my favorite, then Sam Angelo's work.

[@dannyboy9784]

Really nice box, love the mushroom lid and the yellow colour detail stands out.

[@hfbowerndesigns810]

Beautiful design and project Richard. Fantastic idea of the collaboration to each design and turn a similar brief for a project. Take care Cheers Harold

[@trurex007lee7]

Always a joy watching a master at work.

[@harveypflugerh5901]

Another great video that has me thinking of possible projects to try. Thanks for sharing

[@deyyoung42]

Really enjoy watching your thought process as you work through the project.

[@charliezens2998]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts as you worked through the process. I've learned a lot from your videos and books. Cheers

[@MarklTucson]

That wood is really stunning. I really enjoy watching you go through the design and turning process and how you make adjustments as needed. These videos are really educational, interesting, and enjoyable. This 4-ways series is an awesome idea.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

We aim to publish a new 4-WAYS project at the beginnin of each month.

[@jayp4083]

Loving the 4 way projects! Looking forward to next month!

[@alainnoel2198]

Great demonstration and very skillfull turning. Learning a lot from your videos. Thank you

[@johnkriplean1148]

I really enjoyed your thought process in designing from the cutting of the raw wood through the finish. Great demo. thanks

[@rickatkins8883]

I have enjoyed watching all of the 4 ways videos. i am a newer turner and appreciate watching many of your videos in helping me to understand how to get better at my turning. Thank You!!

[@morningsong7885]

Even without the sparkle, a really lovely little box, beautiful shape, and the wood looks fantastic 👍🏻 Well done, Mr. Richard 👏🏻

[@glennconstable3789]

Thanks Richard really appreciate you guys doing this - really helps us to expand our skills.

[@carolriley8472]

Lovely little box...love the shape!

[@tomcoker9882]

Another great teaching video, with a lot of as you go instructions on how you made a lovely little box. I’m not convinced it needed the color as the wood was quite lovely as it was. I get to try one soon, as my wife looked over my shoulder just as you finished it and said “You’re going to make me one of those, aren’t you?”. So now to find some suitable blanks. Thanks again Richard. Cheers, Tom

[@Laikeen]

Very beautiful Project and allways good explaination, it’s a very good idea to do the same Project Best regards from France

[@fredericrg2984]

Magnifique Richard, bonjour de Savoie .

[@richardhodsdon571]

great idea and well done to all four of you guys

[@jackthompson5092]

Beautiful little box Richard.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Beautiful little box. I am learning to use the dividers like you do to mark a circle. Previously I relied on a large compass with a pencil whose lead frequently broke on rough wood.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Did you notice you three had infitting lids, as I usually do for crossgrain boxes, whereas I chanced the other way. I've never got around to making chuck gauges but do have dividers set. Steel gauges would be ideal because dividers shift over time.

[@gregdownunderinOz]

I don’t think the box needs any sparkle, it’s lovely the way it is. Great instructional video on use of tools. A different design again.

[@MoleValleyMaker]

Really enjoyed all 4 videos and think it's a great idea. Thanks, Dave

[@jimneely4527]

I always learn from your commentary while you are creating. A beautiful little cross-grain box. Thanks for sharing and collaborating on this project. Now I'll have to go look at what the other turners come up with.

[@randycosgrove3608]

Thanks Richard. I'm looking forward to seeing what the others come up with. If we don't try different things we don't learn but in this case I've got to say that I liked the look of the wood without the colour better. But that's me. Others, I'm sure, will have different opinions.

[@josephpotterf9459]

Wow that turned out nice thanks Richard

[@marcelsimun6282]

Richard, super práca, nádherné dielo... 👍👍👍✊✊✊

[@davidmorgan7522]

Very nice! It's very interesting watching and listening to each of you FOUR WAYS. The explanations and the processes from the 4 Masters will be great info to use and follow! Take care, Dave

[@johnnyb95678]

Simply beautiful!

[@رحمانافروز]

Very nice thank you for vidieos❤

[@kevinparker4160]

Lovely box

[@philwyatt313]

another masterclass

[@charlesisrael8717]

So glad to see you taking every opportunity to sneak in a bit of exercise….and so early in the video. Perhaps your Son-do-Sock could meet my Daughter-of-Shirt? The result might not be a full wardrobe, but could prove of interest! Excellent narrative on the video

[@ericmoorehead1100]

Quite surprised you didn’t use a screw chuck followed by creating a tenon on the bottom for reverse mounting.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Mounting over the pin jaws is is faster with more options for adjusting the blank. And i see no point in creating a tenon when I can grip the outside. Putting on a tenon that eventually needs to be removed when I don't want a small foot or base is a waste of time and material. I wasted quite enough on this project as it was.

[@tricolorturners]

Nicely done, RR! Surprised you did not bandsaw that lid to save as a lid for another lidded bowl:)

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Far too dangerous!!!! That a good way to lose fingers or part thereof. Never cut cylinders on any band or table saw unless the cylinder is firmly clamped to a carrier so it cannot roll into the blade. I did think of parting it but it wasn't worth the time or effort.

[@tricolorturners]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Of course, clamp is absolutely necessary along with a jig. You’d be nuts to do it by hand, but safely doable.

[@malbun3275]

Hi Richard I’m a bit uneasy using resin, getting the mix correct,but never thought of using epoxy for small jobs other than gluing up. Another gem learnt ,using as you did on the embellishment of the lid. I need to try that method using some brass filings I have obtained from a locksmiths key cutting machine. Thanks for sharing,I think your videos are the most interesting and give a feeling of being along side you in your workshop while you turn. Thanks Regards

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@malbun3275 Many thanks. Your feedback is useful and appreciated.

[@dabrownable]

Richard, It seems that your scrapers are sharpened at a more acute angle than the ones I have that have been sharpened by previous turners that I've taken classes. Mine are at about 65-70 degrees. It looks like yours are closer to 45 degrees. Would that be correct, and if so, please tell me why you have gone to that angle? Thank you for all your instruction. Dave Brown

[@alessandrosuppini943]

Beautiful little mushroom box! Richard what tool would you use to add a round groove around the yellow spots to be filled with coloured epoxy?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I'd probably use a skew long point as a scraper so there's a key for the epoxy. I wouldn't dream of one groove, I'd have a rough groove with wavy edges either side of the dots.

[@edwardukleja4583]

Hi Richard. I am watching this again following the 4 way panel discussion. How did you turn the bowl with a spout and handle that you showed as a possible lid???

[@rkdavenport]

finger around the rest to more easily apply pressure downward on the tool rest. sigh, the little things are magic. and so much more... ;-)

[@jorisdemoel3821]

That's a wonderfully figured and coloured wood. Do you know what species it is? A lovely shape, and the yellow is just sparkly enough, I think, in the light. I am greatly looking forward to the project for April! Many thanks as always, a great deal to learn and enjoy. (And The Sock.)

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

As I think I say near the beginning, I've no idea what the wood is other than it's old and well seasoned.

[@jorisdemoel3821]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning You did, I was just wondering if you might have indentified it during turning or after. Thanks!

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

@@jorisdemoel3821 Unfortunately not.

[@MrPrecisionShot]

Hello Richard .I have a question.: When you refer to a gouges size do you refer th th size of the shank of the tools as US manufacturers do or to the flute as the Europeans do? Love your content and am always learning alot from you and Tomislav. God bless and keep you in good health for many many years to come.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

As an Anglo Australian I refer to flute sizes. I've been trying to make that clear in more recent videos.

[@MrPrecisionShot]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning Thank you Richard for clarifying this.

[@emgiwoodworks]

If there is one thing I've learned from watching your video's it is to use scrapers more often. Slight problem: You seem to have the right one for every occasion whereas my range of scrapers is fairly limited. 😎

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Unfortunately I downsized before I started making the videos so no longer have the range of scrapers I used to and most are getting a bit short from regular reshaping.

[@tomgerhard1403]

​@@RichardRaffanwoodturning as a relatively new turner, I've always thought of a scraper as a finishing tool, but I've learned from you that they are good for shaping as well.

[@erickolsen8930]

Hi Richard - I've been watching your videos with great enjoyment ! I have a question about your use of the square end scraper for the bottoms of cross grain bowls/boxes. Would you recommend this technque for larger (12"+) and deeper bowls, assuming adequate support for the tool ?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

My big bowl scrapers are 35mm x 9mm thick. You seem them in the deeper bowl videos. i rarely go all the way into the bottom of a bowl using a gouge. I find scrapers more accurate.

[@johnmitchell1614]

Nice box with random ( Damn accurate ) colour inlays Richard. Did I miss it, or did you identify the timber you used on this job? Best regards. 🙃

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Frustratingly, John, I have no idea what the wood is. It came to me in a job lot of well-seaoned blanks.

[@johnmitchell1614]

Okay thanks, nice looking stuff though.

[@robinbest4786]

Richard, what do you use for your hone/burnisher ?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I have a clutch of diamond stick hones. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nKdJeMhpp5b6s

[@robertakick7392]

What is your lathe speed wen you are applying the beeswax? I am having trouble getting mine to melt in. My lathe is in the unheated garage in the northwest corner of Indiana, USA. I started turning about 6 months ago.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Pure beeswax should melt even if the wood is moving quite slowly. You need sustained firm pressure for the wax to melt and the further from centre you hold the wax, the faster it'll melt. Near the rim of a small project like this running at about 1500rpm that should be 3 seconds even in 5°c. On a 16-in platter running at 800rpm the peripheral speed is probably greater than on the faster spinning smaller project so the wax will melt faster.

[@robertakick7392]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning thank you for the information. I have learned so much from your videos. Turning is my tranquilizer. I just wish that girls had been allowed in shop classes in the 1950's when I was in high school.

[@markhunt6177]

I know Mike and Sam from the many good videos they have created. What is the last name for Thomas? I can't quite make it out.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

Tomislav Tomašić

[@brianhawes3115]

Your gouge has the left wing longer than the right and I’m not seeing when that comes into play, so what does that grind do?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

This is the asymmetric grind that I developed in the early 1970s. It's more to do with the steep right wing bevel making some cuts much easier than the swept back left wing although that's where this grind started. Bowl gouges used to be ground straight across until I came alone. This video shows how I use the gouge. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ-xc3WMZp6Mgtk

[@brianhawes3115]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning interesting, I used a 45 degree bowl gouge on everything but the bottom of the bowl were I switch to a 60 degree, having seen all your videos I’m using a scraper to finish the bottom and having great results thanks my time at the lathe has greatly improved with your mentorship

[@alextopfer1068]

The wood looks like red ironbark?

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

It's a possibility but it didn't work as well as what is known to be red ironbark in kzbin.info/www/bejne/p16llGyqqa1oa80.

[@georgekabacinski]

Heavy sanding - 120! Ha! Heavy sanding is for me is like 60 or less.

[@kenvasko2285]

Two and a half hours to watch all 4 back to back is a bit much. Next month, I'm going to take a couple days to watch all 4.

[@RichardRaffanwoodturning]

I did the three back-to-back so I know where you're coming from. The next project is less complicated so the videos shold be a bit shorter.

[@kenvasko2285]

@@RichardRaffanwoodturning I'll go back and soak up the knowledge one at a time in the next couple days

[@markhunt6177]

Nevermind, I just followed the links. I guess I know why you laghed. I don't know how to pronounce the name either.

[@ЭдуардСеменюк-о1з]

Извини. Видео не о чем... Просто перевод красивой заготовки😢